Ball check valve assembly

ABSTRACT

A check valve assembly which consists of a housing having inlet and outlet ports connected by an internal chamber and a ball contained within the chamber and movable between a position intermediate the inlet and outlet ports and a valve seat at the inner end of the inlet port. The chamber includes a bypass of large cross-sectional area to permit liquid flow around the ball when the valve is in its open position.

United States Patent [1 1 Deibler et a1.

[ BALL CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY [75] Inventors: Robert R. Deibler,Loudonville; Tom

W. Patterson, Hayesville, both of Ohio [73] Assignee: Hydr-O-Matic PumpCompany,

Hayesville, Ohio [22] Filed: Apr. 26, 1971 [21] App]. No.: 137,331

[52] US. Cl. 137/528 [51] Int. Cl Fl6k 15/04 [58] Field of Search.....-137/5195, 528, 533 11,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Mackey 137/533.11 X

[ 1 June 26, 1973 2,354,255 7/1944 Gillum 137/528 X 3,498,315 3/1970Graves et al. 137/533.11 X 1,839,730 1/1932 Baten et al 137/5331] XPrimary Examiner-Robert G. Nilson Attorney--Oldham & Oldham [57]ABSTRACT A check valve assembly which consists of a housing having inletand outlet ports connected by an internal chamber and a ball containedwithin the chamber and movable between a position intermediate the inletand outlet ports and a valve seat at the inner end of the inlet port.The chamber includes a bypass of large crosssectional area to permitliquid flow around the ball when the valve is in its open position;

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAIENIEDJUIZS 1915 3.741; 243

INVENTORS ERT R. DEIEBLER W M w. PATTERSON OLDHAM 8 OLDHAM ATTORNEYSBALL CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY Ball valves are one type of an inexpensivevalve that can provide effective valving action in many types of pumpingsystems.

When check valves are used in piping systems which carry liquidscontaining solid particles, the valves must provide largecross-sectional flow passages for liquid flow in the normal direction sothat the solid particles do not become trapped in the valve assembly,obstructing liquid flow. In addition, both the valve seat and the freehead must be free of solids so that proper closing of the valve occursupon reverse flow in the piping systern. I

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a checkvalve assembly which is capable of handling liquids containing solidparticles, and which is readily self-cleaning.

It'is also an object of the invention to provide an improved check valveassembly which is inexpensive to manufacture and trouble free inoperation.

Theabove and other objects of the invention which will become apparentin the following detailed description are achieved by providing a checkvalve assembly which consists, essentially, of a housing having inletand outlet ports connected by an internal chamber and a ball confinedwithin the chamber. The ball is guided by the chamber walls and movesfrom an intermediate position during normal flow to asealing position atthe end of the inlet port during reverse flow. The chamber also includesa large cross-sectional area bypass to permit liquid flow around theball during flow in the forward direction.

For a more complete understanding of the invention and the objects andadvantages thereof, reference should be had to the followingdetaileddescription and the accompanying drawing whereinthere is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a'longitudinal cross-sectional view of the check valveassembly of the present invention, showing the valve in its openposition;

FIG. 2 is a view, similar to that of FIG. 1, but showing the valve inits closed position; and

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG.1.

The valve assembly, designated generally by the reference numeral 10,includes a pair of casings 12 and 14 which are joined together by bolts16. An O-ring or other sealing means-18 is preferably provided betweenthe mating surfaces of the casing sections 12 and 14. The casing section12 is provided with an inletport 20 while the casing section 14 isprovided with an outlet port 22. The two casing sections 12 and 14, whenjoined together, define a chamber 24. The chamber 24 includes agenerally cylindrical portion 26 extending inwardly from the inner endof the inlet port 20 to a point 28 spaced from the inner end of theoutlet port 22. The wallsof this cylindrical portion 26 serve to guideand limit movement of a ball 30 in the chamber. The inner end of theinlet port 20 is formed into a spherical seat 32 for mating with theball 30 andthe inner end 28 of the cylindrical portion 26 serves as astop for the inward movement of the ball 30. The chamber 24 alsoincludes an offset enlarged portion 34 which extends-from the inlet port20 beside the cylindric'al portion 26 to theoutlet port 22, but whichportion 34 is smaller in width than the ball diameter.

Liquid flow in the normal direction, as indicated by the arrow 36 ofFIG. 1, forces the ball inwardly along the cylindrical portion 26 to therear stop 28 permitting unrestricted liquid flow through the valve 10.The flow is from the inlet port 20 through the bypass portion 34 of thechamber 24 to the outlet port 22. Upon commencement of fluid flow in thereverse direction, as indicated by the arrow 38 of FIG. 2, the ball 30moves to: ward the seat 32 at the inner end of the inlet opening 20under the pressure of the incoming liquid. As the ball 30 moves towardthe seat 32 the cross-sectional area between the seat 32 and the ball 30at the end of the bypass portion 34 of the channel 24 decreases creatinga venturi across this region. As a result of this venturi action thereis a decrese in pressure on the ball 30 in the region of the seat 32 andthis decreased pressure aids in the closing of the valve.

As can be seen from the above description, the check valve assembly ofthe present invention is characterized by its simplicity of constructionand operation. Liquid flow through the valve and the valve constructionis such as to be self-cleaning at the valve seat area. The valveincludes only three major components and eliminates the need for anysprings, pivotal connections between the valve head and the valve body,or other components which may be potential sources of trouble. When thevalve is in its open position, there is a large cross-sectional paththrough the valve so that liquid and any solidparticles entrained in theliquid can freely pass through the valve. Both the valve seat and theball are directly in contact with liquid flowing through the valve andthe forward direction and are thus washed by the liquid so that solidparticles do not become trapped or deposited and complete closing of thevalve on reverse flow is assured. I

While only the best known embodiment of the invention has beenillustrated and described in detail, the invention is not solimited.'Reference should therefore be had to the appended claims indetermining the true scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A check valve assembly including a valve casing having an'inlet portand only one outlet port and an internal chamber connecting the inletand outlet ports, and characterized by the chamber including acylindrical portion extendinginwardly from the inner end of the inletport to a point spaced from. the inner end of the outlet port;

a ball of greater diameter than the diameter of the inlet port, theball'being confined by and movable in the cylindrical portion ofthechamber for movement on an axis extending between the inlet an outletports; and the chamber further including only one eccentric bypassportion starting'at and extending from the inner end of the inlet port,extending along beside the cylindrical portion of the chamber, andcommunicating with the outlet port, the bypass portion being closed whenthe ball is in contact with the inner end of the inlet port andproviding a fluid flow path of large crosssectional area when the ballis inits innermost position, liquid flow through said bypass portionproviding a cleaning action on said ball. 2. The check valve assemblyaccording to claim 1 wherein the inletand outlet ports are insubstantial axial alignmennthe valve casing comprises a pair of e ternalchamber connecting the inlet and outlet ports each having an inner endand characterized by the chamber including a generally cylindricalportion of greater diameter than the inlet and outlet ports extendingaxially inward from the inner end of the inlet port 'to a point spacedfrom the inner end of the outlet port and a sole bypass portion oflesser width than the diameter of the cylindrical portion extending fromthe inner end of the inlet portion beside the cylindrical portion and tothe inner end of the outlet port, the cylindrical and bypass portionsbeing in full communication along their entire lengths;'

a ball received in the cylindrical portion of thechamher and of adiameter less than of the cylindrical portion but greater than thediameter of the inlet port and greater than the width of the bypassportion, the inner end of the inlet port being a spherical segment formating with the ball, and

said valve casing being made in two parts, and said cylindrical portionis partly formed in each of said casing parts, the liquid flow pathbeing in one direction along a peripheral portion of the ball for a ingin any position,

1. A check valve assembly including a valve casing having an inlet portand only one outlet port and an internal chamber connecting the inletand outlet ports, and characterized by the chamber including acylindrical portion extending inwardly from the inner end of the inletport to a point spaced from the inner end of the outlet port; a ball ofgreater diameter than the diameter of the inlet port, the ball beingconfined by and movable in the cylindrical portion of the chamber formovement on an axis extending between the inlet and outlet ports; andthe chamber further including only one eccentric bypass portion startingat and extending from the inner end of the inlet port, extending alongbeside the cylindrical portion of the chamber, and communicating withthe outlet port, the bypass portion being closed when the ball is incontact with the inner end of the inlet port and providing a fluid flowpath of large cross sectional area when the ball is in its innermostposition, liquid flow through said bypass portion providing a cleaningaction on said ball.
 2. The check valve assembly according to claim 1wherein the inlet and outlet ports are in substantial axial alignment,the valve casing comprises a pair of casing sections, one sectionincluding the inlet port and the other section including the outletport, the bypass portion being in communication with the cylindricalportion of the chamber for flow of liquid along a peripheral portion ofsaid ball in one direction when liquid flows through the valve.
 3. Acheck valve assembly, comprIsing a valve casing having an inlet port andonly one outlet port and an internal chamber connecting the inlet andoutlet ports each having an inner end and characterized by the chamberincluding a generally cylindrical portion of greater diameter than theinlet and outlet ports extending axially inward from the inner end ofthe inlet port to a point spaced from the inner end of the outlet portand a sole bypass portion of lesser width than the diameter of thecylindrical portion extending from the inner end of the inlet portionbeside the cylindrical portion and to the inner end of the outlet port,the cylindrical and bypass portions being in full communication alongtheir entire lengths; a ball received in the cylindrical portion of thechamber and of a diameter less than of the cylindrical portion butgreater than the diameter of the inlet port and greater than the widthof the bypass portion, the inner end of the inlet port being a sphericalsegment for mating with the ball, and said valve casing being made intwo parts, and said cylindrical portion is partly formed in each of saidcasing parts, the liquid flow path being in one direction along aperipheral portion of the ball for a cleaning action thereon; said checkvalve functioning in any position.